Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh was the second person to check out at the new Whole Foods Market Detroit on the opening day of the new Midtown grocery store, June 5. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI - Hundreds of people came out to celebrate the opening of a Whole Foods retail store in Detroit in Wednesday morning, as part of what is arguably one of the most highly anticipated retail openings of the last few years in a city where retail openings are celebrated readily.

Mayor Dave Bing, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation President George Jackson, Midtown Detroit Inc. President Sue Mosey and City Council President Charles Pugh were some of the local civic and business leaders to welcome the Austin, Texas-based grocer's arrival in the city. Check out our video of the store's official bread breaking above.

Whole Foods Market co-CEO Walter Robb helped break bread at the grand opening too. His company, which had $11.7 billion in sales last year, has 340 stores throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

"This one's particularly special," Robb said, adding that he hoped it would encourage more businesses to come to the city.

Whole Foods Market has more than 73,000 employees, and the team members it added in Detroit are a source of pride.

"I'm very proud we could bring 97 new jobs here," Robb said.

Construction on the 21,000-square-foot building began last August.

The retailer was reportedly given $4.2 million in tax credits to open the store at the corner of Woodward and Mack Avenue. Last June, the Michigan Economic Development Corp.announced a $1 million incentive for the construction of the Midtown store.

On Wednesday, many of the attendees of the store's grand opening were there simply out of curiosity, but several others were taking the opportunity to actually shop for groceries. A line out of the store's doors, which opened at 9 a.m., was moving along briskly. And even with just 21,000 square feet of space, the grocer did not seem cramped.

Festivities at the store will continue throughout the day. There are about 70 tents set up with local food vendors giving free samples, and there's a stage with live music performances. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out.